RJHS teams gearing for more challengesBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com With the Russellville Junior High football teams getting different results in last week's action, both Whirlwind head coaches have different goals for their respective teams tonight. Russellville West picked up an 18-12 win last week over Conway Blue in somewhat of a surprising fashion. With the West 'Winds primarily being a passing team, West coach Joey Jones did not expect to pick up a win because of the ...

'Golden' performance carries West past ConwayBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com Russellville Junior High West football coach Joey Jones saw his offensive gameplan become obsolete Thursday night, but the alternative gave the Whirlwinds a surprising boost. Despite losing starting quarterback Madison Beaird to an injury before he was able to even take a snap, Russellville West used a strong running game to capture an 18-12 victory over Conway Blue at Cyclone Stadium. Kenneth Golden led th...

Whirlwinds hope to build on early success tonightBy Danny Scott sportseditor@couriernews.com After a pair of successful openers last week, the Russellville Junior High East and West squads will be looking for more tonight as the Whirlwinds continue their nonconference schedule. Russellville East, which defeated Van Buren-Butterfield last week in head coach Matt Warrick's debut, will travel to Atkins tonight. Russellville West, which topped Van Buren-Coleman on the road, will open its home sl...

Whirlwinds blow away Trail Blazers in head coach's debutBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com If Russellville East football coach Matt Warrick had any apprehension going into his first football game as a head coach, those feelings soon turned into more positive feelings Thursday night. Behind a strong running performance from Garret Lloyd, the East Whirlwinds opened their season with a 22-6 win over Van Buren-Butterfield at Cyclone Stadium to give Warrick a victory in his coaching debut. "It's great...

'Winds set to kick off 2005 season tonightBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com With football season upon us and preseason scrimmages over, it's time to get down to business as junior high football returns to the scene on Thursday nights. Both Russellville Junior High teams will open their respective seasons tonight, as the Whirlwind squads look to make a push in the Central Arkansas Junior High Conference North Division. Russellville East will host Van Buren-Butterfield tonight at Cyc...

RHS junior varsity football team opens with winCourier sports staff The Russellville High School junior varsity football team opened its 2005 season with a win Monday in Clarksville, rallying to defeat the Panthers' junior varsity 20-18. The Cyclones' junior varsity (1-0) trailed 12-0 in the first half but came back behind three touchdown passes by quarterback Blake Humphrey. "We came out like we forgot to get off the bus," Russellville head coach Jeff Holt said. "Once we woke up, we playe...

World Series finish not a disappointmentBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com Despite not finishing in first place, the Russellville Red Wings still remain positive after their play in the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series this past week. The Red Wings soared past their first two opponents, which included wins of 14-4 over Sikeston, Mo., and 14-2 over Aston Valley, Pa., and squeaked past Okeeheelee, Fla., 7-6 to advance to the finals of the winner's bracket. However, Russellville s...

Gone to the Valley fishin'By Scott Perkins editor@couriernews.com The Arkansas River Valley is known for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities and a lot of fishing. This week, Russellville has been the mecca of youth baseball as the 2005 Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series was played out at M.J. Hickey Park. The world of baseball and the River Valley's own pastime came together when one local man made an offer some visitors from the east coast just couldn't pass up. Th...

Kenner remains unbeaten to win SeriesBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com After advancing to the championship round of the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series with an unbeaten postseason record, Kenner, La., didn't want that streak to end and came away with a 9-6 victory Friday night over Okeeheelee, Fla., to win the World Series championship. "It's just a great feeling, and I don't know really what to say," Kenner coach Frank Adolph said. "We set this goal a long time ago and ke...

Russellville native gives back to Babe Ruth LeagueBy Danny Scott sportseditor@couriernews.com In the summer of 2002, Tim McKelvey was on the field for the Babe Ruth 16-year-old World Series at M.J. Hickey Park, a member of the Russellville squad that finished third overall. This past week, McKelvey, 19, was back on that same field, just in a different capacity. As a volunteer for the 2005 Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series, McKelvey worked with the grounds crew, which gets the field ready be...

Local voice heard at SeriesBy Sean Ingram managingeditor@couriernews.com Local radio personality Tom Kamerling has been the voice behind the majority of the games of the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series. After tonight's game, it may be awhile before you hear his voice again. After 39 years invested in community journalism in the Arkansas River Valley, Kamerling became public information officer Aug. 1 for the local Nuclear Planning and Response office, an agency of t...

Okeeheelee advances; Russellville settles for thirdBy Danny Scott sportseditor@couriernews.com Okeeheelee, Fla., which narrowly avoided elimination from the 2005 Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series on Wednesday, made the most of its second life by defeating Russellville 9-0 Thursday at M.J. Hickey Park in the championship game of the loser's bracket. Okeeheelee (4-1) will now face unbeaten Kenner, La., in today's World Series championship game beginning at 6 p.m. Russellville (3-2) finished th...

By George: Former MLB star gives back to baseballBy Danny Scott sportseditor@couriernews.com Growing up in Alabama, and later in California, George Foster dreamed of one day becoming a professional baseball star like his boyhood idol, Willie Mays. Foster's dream not only came to fruition when he was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1968, it came with a little icing on top, as Foster got to play alongside his idol. Mays spent almost his entire career with the Giants and moved with them ...

Okeeheelee rallies, ends Hilo's streak in wild finishBy Danny Scott sportseditor@couriernews.com Okeeheelee, Fla., ended Hilo's tournament run the way it started - with a loss to the Bulldogs - by rallying to take an 11-10 victory over the All-Stars in eight innings Wednesday night at M.J. Hickey Park. Ian Hagenmiller scored the winning run for Okeeheelee (3-1) after Lane Bloom's ground ball rolled harmlessly through the legs of the Hilo third baseman, much to the delight of the Okeeheelee conti...

Kenner blanks Russellville, moves to finalsBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com As was anticipated, the team that made the fewest mistakes in Wednesday night's Russellville-Kenner, La., game came away victorious to remain unbeaten in the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series. Playing error-free baseball and pounding out 10 hits, Kenner defeated the Russellville Red Wings 10-0 in the winner's bracket finale at Hickey Park. The game was called in the fourth inning due to the 10-run rule. W...

Okeeheelee advances after holding off NewtownBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com What started as a good comeback effort Tuesday night by the Newtown Bombers ended a little short as Okeeheelee, Fla., held off the Bombers 13-7 in the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series at Hickey Park. Trailing 10-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Newtown scored six runs to pull within three with one inning to play. Okeeheelee, however, put more distance between the teams with three runs in th...

Hilo heats up again, burns Southeastern LexingtonBy Danny Scott sportseditor@couriernews.com The hot-and-cold bats of Hilo, Hawaii were running hot again Tuesday, as the All-Stars uncorked a 16-hit performance and eliminated Southeastern Lexington, Ky. from the 2005 Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series by a score of 11-4 at M.J. Hickey Park. Kian Kurokawa (3 for 4, three RBIs) and Kean Wong (3 for 4, four RBIs) led the way for Hilo (3-1), which broke open a scoreless game with six runs in the...

Russellville, Kenner set for battle of unbeatensBy Mark Burke sports@couriernews.com With the Cal Ripken 10-year-old World Series moving closer to the championship round, the two remaining unbeaten teams are set to do battle today in the winner's bracket final. The host Russellville Red Wings and Kenner, La. - the winners of Southwest Regional - will do battle to see who will be the lone undefeated team in the tournament as the teams will go head to head at 8 p.m. today at Hickey Park. Neit...